You will review the evolution of the Korean economy decade by decade since Korea’s independence from Japan in 1945. Major policies of each decade will be explained and their effect on the Korean economy will be analyzed. Also, the backgrounds and limitations of important policies will be scrutinized. By doing so, you will be able to compare the Korea experience with the other developing countries’.
1. You will be able to explain how the miracle of the Korean economic development was made possible.
2. By examining internal and external conditions behind the decision making of major policies in Korea, you will be able to draw lessons that can be applicable to today’s developing countries.
3. You can explain how the Korean economy has interacted with the global economy in the past.
4. You can observe how economic theories and models can be applied to the Korean case.

From the lesson

1980s

Module 10. Crisis Management & Structural Reform and Trade Liberalization of the 80s: The Korean economy was close to foreign exchange crisis in the early 1980s. This module explains how Korea could avoid the crisis and stabilize the economy by the mid-1980s. It also introduces structural reforms and trade liberalization reforms. Module 11. Three Lows & Economic Boom of the 1980s: This module introduces favorable international environments called ‘three-lows’, which emerged from the mid-1980s. It introduces backgrounds of three-lows, and explains how these three-lows helped the Korean economy to enjoy the unprecedented economic boom. Also, it introduces how the democratization of the Korea society has influenced the economy.